A
travel agency for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Tourism
Australia Premier Aussie Specialist
Accredited Tassie, Northern Territory, NT Outback, NSW, Victoria
& Queensland Specialists
Matai Fiji Specialist
LAMINGTON
NATIONAL PARK
Lamington
is a region of rainforest and eucalpyt forest in the high country
behind Queensland's Gold Coast. Situated around 3000', the mountains,
plateaus, valleys, forests and wildlife make this an exceptional
destination for those interested in wildlife and nature. An extensive
National Park and two nature lodges, perhaps the longest running
in Australia, make access and exploration simple, and there's even
daily buses from Brisbane or the Gold Coast to get there. If wildlife,
birds and natural history are on your Australia must-see list, then
make sure Lamington is part of your visit.
Lamington National Park is an easy and interesting
2-hour drive inland from Brisbane, and a little shorter from the
Gold Coast. Travel is from the coast through farming communities
and small towns rising up through the hinterland and into Australia's
Great Dividing Range (which actually just divides the immediate
east coast from the rest of Australia). There are two access roads,
one of which ends at Lamington National Park campground and Information
Centre, and O'Reillys
Rainforest Guesthouse, established officially in 1930 but
welcoming guests since 1914. O'Reillys in fact predates the Park
and spurred its declaration. The other route is a little to the
south, and ends at Binna
Burra Lodge. There is no road connecting these two parts,
but there is a walking track between them.
While Binna Burra is more rustic than O'Reilly's,
both offer naturalist guided tours, beautiful scenery, outdoor
activities and a lot of accessible wildlife. Each month in November
O'Reillys hosts a Bird
Week, attracting experts and beginners alike from around Australia
and overseas. Binna Burra has several programs of orienteering,
abseiling (rapelling) and similar outdoor sports.
If you prefer, camping is available at the National
Park campground and at Binna Burra.
